Preseason games will help establish rotation, minutes for Rockets

Now things can start to get interesting. After seven practices spread over five days, the next step with the overhauled Rockets roster will be difficult for different reasons, but it can bring answers.

The Rockets, as with teams undergoing far less change, spent their first week with the usual training and preparation. Over the next 10 days, they will play five preseason games that will go a long way to determining a rotation and settling several position battles.

“Those decisions are probably 10 days to two weeks off, but we’re not going to play 18 guys in exhibition games,” coach Kevin McHale said. “I’m going to try to get some combinations that hopefully will play in the regular season. But we’re still in the adolescent phase of figuring this team out and who we have and what’s going on. There’s a lot of that going on. That’s going to shore up over the next 20 days. It has to.”

As much as the Rockets have been rebuilt, with forward Chandler Parsons the only starter to end last season back, the starting lineup seems easy to predict with Patrick Patterson and Omer Asik joining Parsons in the frontcourt and Jeremy Lin and Kevin Martin (who started 40 games before his shoulder injury last season) in the backcourt.
But that leaves roughly a dozen players competing for relatively few rotation spots off the bench.

“Everybody is going to compete for their time,” McHale said. “There are guys here that are definitely going to play. How much and who they play with we’ll figure out. For me, it’s still pretty wide open what everybody’s roles will be.”

Backup center needed
Perhaps no spot is as wide open as the backup center position behind Asik. Other than Asik, only Greg Smith can be considered primarily a center, though he points out that he is as much a power forward. Smith brings size and strength at 6-10, 250, and the Rockets have invested eight months in harnessing his abilities. But he remains a project with a non-guaranteed contract on a team that must trim the roster.

Donatas Motiejunas could work as a backup center with his ability to run the floor and score from the perimeter if he is matched up against bigger centers. But Motiejunas missed most of training camp with an infection, returning in time for Saturday’s scrimmage.

Patterson rotated with Smith at center at the scrimmage, and if the young power forwards play well enough to take minutes at that position, Patterson could be an option to play at five.

Power forward minutes are as wide open but less complicated. Excluding stretches in which the Rockets go small, playing time is likely to go to one of the four players — JaJuan Johnson, Terrence Jones, Motiejunas and Royce White — taken in the first round of the last two drafts.

“Terrence Jones has been very good,” McHale said. “D-Mo has had his moments.”

White is scheduled to begin practicing with the team Monday, but with game days dotting the schedule, he will need several weeks to get in as many practices as he missed. Marcus Morris, who had been concentrating on playing small forward, worked at power forward in McAllen and played well.

Carlos Delfino’s arrival was delayed because of visa issues, but he immediately stepped in and, according to McHale, was “phenomenal” at small forward in the scrimmages.

Forbes a factor
Gary Forbes could figure at the position as well, having added a veteran presence throughout camp before having an outstanding shooting day in Saturday’s scrimmage, in which he hit five of six 3s. Morris has looked improved at the position.

Delfino could figure as a backup shooting guard as well, depending on matchups. Shaun Livingston missed most of camp with a strained groin and is day-to-day.

McHale has also shown a willingness to go small in the backcourt, as he did last season, playing Lin with another point guard.

The backup point guard minutes are also up for grabs. Toney Douglas, who began last season as the starter in New York, has seemed rejuvenated by the move to the Rockets.

Scott Machado must overcome the issues (perimeter shooting and defensive quickness) that kept him from being drafted but has shown the playmaking and open-court skills he demonstrated in leading the nation in assists at Iona. He had 10 assists in limited playing time Saturday.

But the first week is just a glimpse, groundwork for the tests to come. With a rush of those tests in the next 10 days, a radically rebuilt rotation will take shape.

Photo: Delcia Lopez / Associated Press/The Monitor

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Rockets guard Jeremy Lin applauds his teammates during a scrimmage.

Rockets guard Jeremy Lin applauds his teammates during a scrimmage.

Photo: Delcia Lopez / Associated Press/The Monitor

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Jeremy Lin stretches during a team practice.

Jeremy Lin stretches during a team practice.

Photo: Delcia Lopez / Associated Press/The Monitor

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Fans line up to get an autograph from Rockets players , Gary Forbes, Marcus Morris and Jeremy Lin.

Fans line up to get an autograph from Rockets players , Gary Forbes, Marcus Morris and Jeremy Lin.

Photo: Delcia Lopez / Associated Press/The Monitor

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Rockets Jeremy Lin get his knee iced by a trainer after the teams intrasquad scrimmage.

Rockets Jeremy Lin get his knee iced by a trainer after the teams intrasquad scrimmage.